Template



May 26, 1959 J.H.-EISNER TEMPLATE Filed Nov. 16, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

fm H. Eisna United States Patent TEMPLATE John H. Eisner, Auburn, N.Y.

Application November 16, 1955, Serial No. 547,065

2 Claims. (Cl. 33-174) This invention relates to a template adapted touse in measuring and cutting out a space in a wall for the insertion ofelectrical equipment such as outlet boxes, or other receptacles.

In previous templates of this type, there was no means of providingmarkings to designate the space for the screws of the cover at thecenter top edge of the box and also at the center bottom edge. There wasalso no means for marking the center location of the template. For thisreason, the cut in the markings of the template would be off possiblyaneighth of an inch, the result of which would show outside of the plasticcover placed over the opening. Another disadvantage of the presenttemplate now in use is the need' to measure the exact position todetermine where the holes for the screws were to be I drilled.

This invention enables one to center the template exactly, avoidingguess work and insuring the exact position of the center of the templatefor marking the cut of the opening. Following these markings in cuttingthe wall, permits a perfect cut opening for the outlet. box, leaving nospace showing.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for marking theoutline of the cut where the box or receptacle is to be placed.Following these markings in the wall, assures a perfect cut opening forthe outlet box and also a perfect fit.

When the cover is placed over this opening, no space shows throughbecause 'ofincorrect cutting Still another object of this novelinvention isto provide means for punching indentations which positivelyaligns the holes to be. drilled for the screws with both, theitop andthebottom edges of the template; I"

My invention also facilitates a means for marking an opening for anoutlet box or other such electrical receptacle in one easy operation.This saves time and eliminates the necessity of measuring to determinethe location where the cut should be made.

Still another advantage of this novel template, is th fact that aguiding outline is impressed in the wood at the same time as the holesfor the screws are marked. This can be accentuated by including asharper edge on the sides of the template.

This present invention of a template is very economica and easy to use.

In accordance with the present invention, a template, made from steel orany other such suitable material, conforms to the following description.The template is made primarily in the shape of a rectangle, ofsubstantial thickness to withstand the force of a hammer. The perimeterof this rectangular template forms a semi-circle at each corner. Also,at both, the center of the top and the bottom edges of the perimeter ofthis template, are semicircles. Located exactly in each of the fourcorners, and at the center of the top and bottom edges are extrudingpunch studs, punched from the face of the template, outwardly. The edgesof this template are so shaped, so that when hit with a hammer againstthe wall, mark the 2,887,776 Patented May 26, 1959 outline of the cut ofthe box. A knife-edged point is cut from the body of the template andbent so as to form a 90 degree angle with the center of the surface ofthe template. The punch studs are to designate the location of the holesto be drilled for the screws, whereas, the center knife-edged pointmarks the center of the template in the wall. This knife-edged pointalso extends adequately outwardly so as to make a deep enough cut in thewall to give one a start for the cutting procedure.

The template is'positioned against the wall where the desired switchbox, or other such receptacle, is to be marked. The punch studs and thecenter knife-edged point are placed contacting the wall. After this isdone, one simply hammers the template against the wall or tile. Withthis. force against the template, the edges of the template for the cutare impressed, the punch studs indent the place where the holes are tobe drilled, and the center point cuts sulficiently into the wall toenable one to easily begin the cutting of the opening.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawinghereinafter set forth in which:

' Figurel is an elevated view of the back of the template illustratingthe studs and the center point in relation to the body of the template.

Figure 4 illustrates the impression left on the wall after the templatehas been placed and hammered.

Figure 5 represents a template blank illustrating the cut i'n'the blankbefore theprojection has been bent.

' Referring now to the drawings, in Figure 1, the reference character 1indicates a template of suitable material with the back face up. Locatedin each corner of the template 1, are punch studs 3' which are pressedoutwardly from the template 1 and which are accurately aligned with thepositioning of the screws to hold a standard'size' switch box. In theexact center of the template 1, at both, the top and the bottom edges,are punched studs 5, which are also pressed outwardly from the template1, and are means for marking the holes where the extending punch studs 3and 5, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure '3, aside elevation view of the template 1, reveals therelationship of the protruding punch studs 5 and 3, and also therelatively sharp edge of the perimeter 13, designated by the numeral 21,with respect to the template 1. The sharp edge of the perimeter 13 is ina single plane. Cut out from the body of the template 1 is a sharp-edgedprojection 7, comprising a point 14 and a back represented by the number15. This cut 20, before it is bent to form a degree angle with thesurface of the body of the template 1, is illustrated in Figure 5. Thisprojection 7 is bent at the center of the surface of the body of thetemplate 1, so that the point 14 of the projection 7 extends outwardlyin the same direction as the punch studs 3 and 5, and the sharp edge 21of the perimeter 13, as shown in Figure 3. In forming the template,sharp edge 21 remains substantially adjacent the plane of the body ofthe template, yet is just high enough to work the perimeter of thetemplate, as shown by the dotted line showing in Figure 3.

In Figure 2, the front of the template 1 is illustrated showing the back15 of the projection 7.

The template 1 is placed so that the punch studs 3 and 5, and the point14 of the projection 7 contact the wall at the pre-determined positionWhere the box is to be located. Using a hammer, or other such means, thetemplate is hit so that the point 14 enters the wall until the surfaceof the template 1 is pressed against the surface of the wall. At thesame time the force of the blow indents shallow holes, 9 and 10designating the place to be drilled for placing the screws. This alsoimpresses in the Wall a mark 3, which is the result of the contact ofthe sharp edge 21 of the perimeter 13 of the template 1. This mark 8outlines the form of the opening to be cut. When the point 14 of theprojection 7 is removed, comparatively deep holes, 9, 10 and 11 areleft, marking the center of the template 1, and also giving startingpoints for the drill to bore openings, and for the saw to furtherproceed to cut the outline of the opening.

In wall construction, various means are employed for mounting anelectrical box. Such means includes fastening a block or cleat (notshown) between a pair of framing members or studs. The cleat is placedat the proper height for positioning the electrical box, and is spacedaway from the face of the wall the proper distance for aligning anelectrical box with the face of the wall. The electrical box is thenfastened to the cleat, and the front of the box is properly aligned withthe face of the wall for receiving a decorative cover plate to fit overthe plug or switch or the like. This method is in common use in presentlight construction inasmuch as scraps of lumber may be used for rigidlymounting the electrical boxes.

In using this invention, the electrical box is not mounted prior toplacing the wall covering over the framing. Instead, the location of thecleat or the like is determined and indicated on the wall board, and thewall board is then placed in its proper position over the framing andfastened thereto in the conventional manner. The template is then placedagainst the wall board at the position indicated by the mark or the likeshowing the location of the cleat, it being understood that the cleatwill already be located behind the wall board. The template being inposition, is then struck with the hammer as described above, leaving theindents for the screw locations, the center mark for starting the cut,and the peripheral outline mark for indicating the exact portion of wallboard to be removed. The required screw holes are next drilled throughthe wall board and into the cleat or other mounting structure for thebox, and the portion of the wail board enclosed by the peripheraloutline is then cut out. The electrical box is then placed in theopening and fastened by conventional screws into the cleat. Thus, thebox is positioned as required in the Wall, and the wall board is cut outfor the box in the exact outline of the box. It will be understood thatnecessary Wiring is already in place and, upon cutting out the wallboard, the wiring is drawn out through the hole a short distance andinserted through an opening (not shown) in the side of the box, afterthe conventional manner before the box is fastened in place in the wall.

The terms block or cleat as used herein will designate generally anysuch member supplementing the framing members of a building constructionfor permitting the installation of an electrical box at some pointWithin the building construction.

It should be understood that this invention is not to be limited to theexact construction as shown in the drawing, but may be varied in sizeand cut. It should also be understood that circular openings may besubstituted for the punch studs, so that the holes to be marked fordrilling, may also be marked with a pencil by following the outline ofthese circular openings. The template may be used in a vertical orhorizontal position, and may be cut in a series for a gang of boxes. Itshould be also understand that I am entitled to all such changestherefrom, as fainly fall within the scope of what I claim.

I claim:

1. A template of substantial thickness comprising a base plate having asharp edged perimeter, punch studs formed from said base plate, saidpunch studs located in the corners of the template, said punch studsextending outwardly, for marking holes to be drilled for sawing, andpunch studs formed from said base plate located in the center of boththe top and the bottom edges of said template, said punch studs providedmeans for marking holes to be drilled for the screws.

2. A template, as described in claim 1, having a cut in the base plate,said cut shaping a projection having an edged point and a back, saidprojection bent to form an angle with said base plate, said point ofsaid projection extending outwardly in the same direction as the punchstuds, and said point extending sufficiently to cut into the wallforming means for marking the center of said template.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS836,737 Connely Nov. 27, 1906 945,445 Carr Jan. 4, 1910 1,611,930MacLeod Dec. 28, 1926 1,849,961 Snelling Mar. 15, 1932 2,540,032 JohnsonJan. 30, 1951 2,547,489 Priebe Apr. 3, 1951 2,733,513 Gatineau Feb. 7,1956 2,775,812 Mohr Jan. 1, 1957

